Carp River Campground
Nestled in a quiet, rustic setting adjacent to the Carp Wild and Scenic River, Carp River Campground is an ideal place to get away and enjoy the outdoors. The surrounding Hiawatha National Forest provides visitors with countless recreational activities, and the scenery provides a beautiful backdrop for a traditional camping experience.
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
More like this: first-come in Michigan · reservable in Michigan · big rigs in Michigan · pets allowed in Michigan
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 20 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 45 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
20 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 1 |
| 002 | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 1 |
| 003 | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 1 |
| 004 | Back-in | 45 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 1 |
| 005 | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 1 |
| 006 | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 1 |
| 007 | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 1 |
| 008 | Back-in | 45 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 1 |
| 009 | Pull-through | 35 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 1 |
| 010 | Pull-through | 25 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 1 |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 45 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Fees | Check in time is anytime after 2 pm. Early arrivals will be charged for the previous day. |
All campsites are wooded and shaded from the hot summer sun. Each site has a table and a fire ring, and drinking water and vault toilets are conveniently spaced throughout the campground.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Season | First come, first serve, May 17; Reservations open May 23 to September 14 |
| Forest | Hiawatha National Forest |
| Booking | You can reserve some campsites for Carp River Campground on the National Recreation Reservation System (NRRS). To check availability or to make a reservation go to: Recreation.gov. Call 877-444-6777. |
| Fees | Site Fee $22 - Federal Recreation Passes (Golden/America the Beautiful) are accepted. |
Weather by month
Getting there
4664 Mackinac Trail, St Ignace Michigan 49781. From the intersection of US-2 and I-75, drive north on I-75 to exit 352. Turn right on County Road 123, then turn left on Mackinac Trail/Highway 63. Drive north approximately five miles, turn left onto FR 3445 and drive a quarter mile to the campground.
| Nearest town | St. Ignace, Michigan |
| Coordinates | 46.0331° N, 84.7192° W · Directions ↗ |
Charges and cancellations
Please cancel seven days in advance if you need to cancel your reservation. Reservation sites cannot be traded for walk up sites.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 8.7 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Adventure Up North ↗ | 11.4 mi |
| RV sales & service | Petoskey RV USA ↗ | 44.2 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Carp River Campground
Trails nearby
- 0.9 miFisherman'S Hike0.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.4 miCarp River Canoe Route ↗31.8 mi trail · paddle
- 2.4 miCarp River Hiking Trail ↗9.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
Horseshoe Bay Wilderness begins about 2.6 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 2.6 miHorseshoe Bay Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 3,879 acres
- 3.9 miMackinac Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 11,358 acres
- 14.8 miRound Island Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 375 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Historic landmarks nearby
Natural features
Located in Michigan's wild and scenic Upper Peninsula, the Hiawatha National Forest is known as "the Great Lakes National Forest." The forest's dramatic shorelines lie nestled up to Lakes Superior, Huron and Michigan. Outstanding lakeshores, lighthouses, islands and historic sites create a playground and place of respite, all within a day's drive from major urban and rural areas of Michigan and Wisconsin.
Recreation
Divided into two major blocks of land and five districts, the forest is home to Grand Island National Recreation Area, Whitefish Scenic Byway, six lighthouses, five Wildernesses and Clear Lake Education Center. In addition to recreation opportunities, visitors will find a wide array of habitats, including trees like northern hardwoods, jackpine and other conifers, and a variety of inland wetland habitats. Fishing is a popular activity in the campground area, and brook, brown and rainbow trout can all be spotted in the Carp River. In addition to the fishing opportunities, hiking canoeing, kayaking, wildlife viewing and more are all available at or around the Carp River Campground.
Nearby
Carp River Campground is located just eight miles from St. Ignace, which is known for its fine restaurants, museums and historic sites.
Guidebooks for Hiawatha National Forest and Michigan
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
- Field Guide Hiawatha National Forest Ecological Classification SystemGreg Kudray, 2019Find at Bookshop.org
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Carp River Campground?
For some sites. Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Carp River Campground?
Check in time is anytime after 2 pm. Early arrivals will be charged for the previous day.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Carp River Campground?
Check-in 02:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Carp River Campground open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026. Season First come, first serve, May 17; Reservations open May 23 to September 14.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Carp River Campground have?
20 sites, including 20 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Carp River Campground?
The longest site here provides 45 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are pets allowed at Carp River Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Carp River Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at Carp River Campground?
FCC coverage maps show AT&T 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Carp River Campground?
Divided into two major blocks of land and five districts, the forest is home to Grand Island National Recreation Area, Whitefish Scenic Byway, six lighthouses, five Wildernesses and Clear Lake Education Center. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Carp River Campground?
St. Ignace, Michigan. Carp River Campground is located just eight miles from St.
Source: Getting there
What if Carp River Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Brevoort Lake Campground (12.3 mi, partly first-come), Lake Michigan At St. Ignace (12.6 mi, partly first-come), and Soldier Lake (23.1 mi, partly first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby